NBA star Trae Young speaks at peaceful protest in Oklahoma

NBA All-Star Trae Young spoke at a peaceful protest of racial injustice and police brutality in his hometown on Monday.

Young, former University of Oklahoma star who w plays for Atlanta Hawks, briefly addressed several hundred people at Andrews Park about deaths of George Floyd and ors.

“I kw this country’s in a messed up place right w,” he said. “And for me, I just think it’s important that we all stick toger and we stand up for what’s right. It’s t just going to take just me. It’s t just going to take just you. It’s all of us coming toger and doing this as a collective unit.”

Floyd, a black man, died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck while Floyd was handcuffed and saying that he couldn’t brea. His death sparked protests in Minneapolis and around country, some of which became violent.

rman mayor Breea Clark and police chief Kevin Foster were among or speakers at rman rally.

Young ackwledged that he doesn’t often speak out on social issues and credited his sister, Caitlyn, for helping him come out of his shell. At one point, Young held up a “Black Lives Matter” sign.

“I’m t used to doing this," he said. "I’m t very open about what I see or things that go on in this world very often, but for me, even though I’m just 21 years old, I feel that it was necessary. This is bigger than me, and I feel like this is a big step in right direction.”

Young’s NBA city of Atlanta has been rocked by protests, fires and looting. He said after he left st that he has mixed feelings about those protests.

“I play in Atlanta, a black cultured city where people are looting re and it's messing up city," he said. "So I see both sides. You can protest right way and peacefully, which I believe it should be, but I also see where it hasn't worked."

He believes better days are ahead.

“I feel like justice will be served and changes will be made if we all come toger,” he said. “This is us doing it. This is first step.”